"We do not believe in new sanctions, they will not help resolve the situation," Lavrov said.

The minister admitted that North Korea did violate UN Security Council resolutions and the situation had to be addressed, but warned that new sanctions would hardly be a good solution.

The US said the launch was cover for a ballistic missile test banned under UN resolutions. In February, Pyongyang agreed to suspend its nuclear activities as well as long-range missile tests in return for US food aid.

Lavrov said North Korea would be allowed to pursue its civilian space programme as soon as all UN Security Council sanctions were lifted.

"Our position is simple - North Korea has the right to use space for peaceful purposes but at the moment this right is restricted by relevant UN Security Council resolutions," he said.

Russia and China together with the US, Japan, South Korea were the negotiators on North Korea's nuclear programme. The UN Security Council was scheduled to meet Friday to discuss North Korea's launch.